The Stolen Generations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed as children from their families and communities through race-based policies set up by both State and Federal Governments from 1910 to the 1970s.

The effect of past day events that are present day impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. If people don’t have the opportunity to heal from trauma, they may unknowingly pass it on to others through their behaviour. Their children may experience difficulties with attachment, disconnection from their extended families and culture and high levels of stress from family and community members who are dealing with the impacts of trauma.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, healing is a holistic process, which addresses mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs and involves connections to culture, family and land. Healing works best when solutions are culturally strong, developed and driven at the local level, and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Healing Foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that partners with communities to address the ongoing trauma caused by actions like the forced removal of children from their families.

Our Board

Professor Steve Larkin

Professor Steve Larkin is a Kungarakan man from Darwin in the Northern Territory. He is a Stolen Generations descendant and is currently Chief Executive Officer, Batchelor Institute.

A former social worker, Steve has worked in urban, rural and remote Aboriginal communities with state and federal governments, the Australian Medical Association and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in the areas of social health, substance misuse and men and prisoners health.

Steve holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from QUT, a Master’s in Social Science from Charles Sturt University and a Bachelor of Social Work from University of Queensland. He also holds appointments on a number of other Boards, including Beyond Blue.

Deputy Chair

Leann Wilson

Leann Wilson is a Bidjara and Kara-Kara woman from Queensland. She has a strong passion for her people, including strong cultural ties to her South Sea ancestry.

Leann has held leadership positions in both state and federal government departments. She is currently a Director of Regional Economic Solutions, an organisation that supports economic development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Leann currently holds a Board position with the Qld Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business and Innovation Panel, the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA), is a panel member of the Qld Reparations Review Panel and is a member of the Australian Red Cross Divisional Advisory Board Qld

She has been a finalist in the Queensland Telstra Woman of the Year, and is also a Fellow of Bond University.

Stephanie Harvey

Stephanie Harvey a proud Bidjara woman from Queensland. She is currently the CEO of Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV), the largest grass roots community development agency in Australia working to tackle Indigenous disadvantage.

For over 30 years Stephanie has worked in the human and community services sector for both government and not-for-profit organisations.

Noeleen Lopes

Noeleen Lopes is a Ghungalu woman and the CEO of Gallang Place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation that provides counselling and support services for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the SEQ region.

Noeleen is the founder of Ghungalou Aboriginal Corporation, for Ghungalou people and their native title matters. She is a former Director of Gearing Up Investment Pty Ltd. Noeleen is also a member of the Community Advisory Council for Brisbane South Primary Health Network.

Aden Ridgeway

Aden Ridgeway, a proud Gumbayyngirr man, is the first Indigenous person to be elected as a Parliamentary Leader when he held the position of Deputy Leader for the Australian Democrats during 2001-02.

He is currently a partner at consultancy firm Cox Inall Ridgeway, a specialist Indigenous consultancy service. Aden is the past Chair of Bangarra Dance Theatre and the NSW Reparations Repayments Scheme Panel.

He is currently the Patron of the Centre for Aboriginal Independence and Enterprise and the Saltwater Freshwater Festival.

Russell Taylor

Russell Taylor, a Kamilaroi man, was the Principal at the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies until December 2016. His career includes more than 30 years in various public sector senior executive positions and 20 years in the banking and finance sector.

Russell is a member of the Council of the University of Technology Sydney, a member of Charles Darwin University’s Vice Chancellor’s Indigenous Advisory Committee and a member of the National Museum of Australia’s IndigenousReference Group.

Read about our CEO

Richard is a descendant of the Meriam people of the Torres Strait and has worked in Indigenous affairs for more than 20 years, 14 of these in Indigenous controlled health services in Far West NSW and Queensland.

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The Healing Foundation is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that partners with communities to address the ongoing trauma caused by actions like the forced removal of children from their families. Our work helps people create a different future.